Embalming composition and method

ABSTRACT

An improved embalming composition and method has been developed. The embalming fluid is a mixture including glutaraldehyde, an aromatic ether of ethanol phenoxyethanol, at least one alcohol, and a polyhydric alcohol humectant. The formulation has no formaldehyde.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embalming fluids currently used contain significant quantities offormaldehyde. The formaldehyde embalming solutions are injected into thearteries and also introduced into the body cavity. Generally the cavityformulation is more concentrated because the naturally occurring fluidsin the body cavity will dilute the formaldehyde formulation. Theformaldehyde solutions also typically contain other additives such ashumectants. Although formaldehyde solutions have been the embalmingfluids of choice, there are a number of drawbacks. Formaldehyde isassociated with certain health and environmental risks. In the UnitedStates, worker exposure to formaldehyde is subject to regulation. Also,formaldehyde can cause problems with the presentation of the body,because it dehydrates the tissue.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,057,775 issued Oct. 9, 1962 to Randow entitled"Embalming Composition", glutaraldehyde was used instead of formaldehydeas a preservative in the embalming fluid. Glutaraldehyde was mixed withother preservatives in the formulations disclosed. If glutaraldehydewere used as the sole preservative, it would not be less than 7% of thesolution. However, glutaraldehyde should be stabilized in the fluid toprevent oxidation and may polymerize in certain concentrations.Glutaraldehyde is tolerable to handle and does not have a noxious odor.Also, glutaraldehyde does not dehydrate tissue.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,809 issued on Oct. 14, 1975 to Randow entitled"Disinfecting Embalming Composition", discloses a fluid that is 2% byweight glutaraldehyde and an alkalizing agent to adjust the pH of thesolution to pH 8˜8.5. The glutaraldehyde is not stable in the alkalizingsolution for more than a few weeks and the disclosure recognizes theproblem of polymerization when glutaraldehyde is present in largeconcentrations. According to the patent, the shelf life problem isresolved by initially preparing two solutions. One is the glutaraldehydesolution which typically also includes formaldehyde and other is thealkalizing solution. The two solutions are mixed as needed. Thiscomposition is reported to significantly reduce the microbial growth inhuman remains.

The desire to eliminate exposure for formaldehyde has been examined byinvestigators involved in cadaver preservation. Wineski et al.,"Phenoxyethanol as a Nontoxic Preservative in the DissectionLaboratory," Acta Anat. Vol. 136 pp. 155-158 (1989). The cadavers wereembalmed by injection with about 24 liters of formaldehyde fluids. Afterembalming the cadavers were immersed or completely wrapped with clothheavily soaked in phenoxyethanol. The exposure to phenoxyethanol isenvironmentally preferable to formaldehyde. However, the success of thetechnique depended on good initial preparation of the cadavers with aformaldehyde fluid.

A need exists for an embalming fluid that is safe to handle and isrelatively simple to prepare for use. The fluid must achieve acceptablestandards for presentation of the deceased. Previous alternatives toformaldehyde fluids have been solutions with stability problemsassociated with higher levels of glutaraldehyde or were cumbersome touse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new embalming fluid capable of use as an arterial and cavity fluid hasbeen developed. The fluid is a mixture of glutaraldehyde, at least onearomatic ether of ethanol, at least one alcohol, and a humectant. Thecomposition may be prepared as a concentrate or diluted with water tothe desired concentration for immediate use by the embalmer. A moreconcentrated fluid can be used in the body cavity. The fluid may containvarious additives conventionally used in embalming fluids, including acolor additive, pH buffer, antioxidant, and perfume. A biocide may alsobe added for additional cidal activity in addition to the fluidcomponents to kill bacteria, viruses or other microbes.

One preferred formulation of the present invention for arterialinjection with a range of the components by volume after dilution isglutaraldehyde from about 0.5% to about 2.0%; aromatic ether of ethanolfrom about 1% to about 3%; a humectant of polyhydric alcohol or mixturesthereof from about 5% to about 9%; ethanol from about 27% to about 37%;and made up with water. The fluid used in the cavity will be on thehigher side of the concentration ranges. A preferred aromatic ether ofethanol used with fluid is phenoxyethanol. The polyhydric alcoholcomponent can be chosen from various chemicals including a mixtures ofglycerol and 1-2 propanediol. Other components may be added to the fluidsuch as dimethylsulfoxide from about 0.5% to about 1% by volume of thefluid which acts as a penetrant. Also, ethoxyethanol from about 1% toabout 2% may be included.

The fluid of the present invention provides improved results as comparedto formaldehyde based fluids. In bodies embalmed with the fluid andmethod of this invention, discolorations such as hematomas visible inthe skin of the deceased prior to embalming were lessened or eliminated.Also, the penetration into the tissue is superior as compared to otherformaldehyde based fluids. The fluid does not contain formaldehyde whichis a chemical currently regulated by federal exposure standards in thework place. The embalming fluid of the present invention is morepleasant to use because the odor is not as noxious and strong as theformaldehyde based solutions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improved embalming fluid of the present invention is a uniquemixture of glutaraldehyde, at least one aromatic ether of ethanol, atleast one humectant, and at least one alcohol. Generally, the fluid isdiluted with water prior to use. The fluid can be prepared in dilutionsappropriate for arterial injection, as well as a more concentrated formfor use in the body cavity.

The preferred formulation includes the following components by volumeafter dilution: glutaraldehyde from about 0.5% to about 2%, aromaticether of ethanol from about 1% to about 3%, humectant from about 5% toabout 9%, and an alcohol from about 27% to about 37%. A preferredhumectant is a polyhydric alcohol or mixtures of more than onepolyhydric alcohol. A preferred alcohol is ethanol. Other alcohols ormixtures of one or more may be used. A preferred aromatic ether ofethanol is phenoxyethanol. The preferred components are not intended tolimit the scope of the inventions and alternative components within thescope of the invention will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

The following Example 1 is an illustration of the improved embalmingcomposition for use in arterial injection.

    ______________________________________                                                             Percent by                                               Components           Volume                                                   ______________________________________                                        Ethyl Alcohol        28.5%                                                    Glutaraldehyde       .5%                                                      1-2 Propanediol      1.24%                                                    Phenoxyethanol       1.47%                                                    Glycerol             5%                                                       ______________________________________                                    

The rest of the volume is made up with water. In addition, ethoxyethanolin about 1.49% by volume may be added to Example 1. The fluid in Example1 has been used in human remains. The composition preserved the body forat least seven to ten days.

In addition to the components in Example 1, a pH buffer and/oranti-oxidant may be included to maintain the stability of theglutaraldehyde. The pH buffer would adjust the pH in the range of pH˜7to pH˜9. Also, a biocide may be added to further deter microbial growth.For instance, bactericide or a viricide may be included such asbenzalkonium chloride or other quaternary ammonium compounds. Inaddition, other additives conventionally used in embalming fluids suchas color additives or an odorant such as perfume may be included. It isnot intended to limit the claimed formulation to exclude additives knownto be used in embalming compositions that would be compatible with theformulation of the present invention.

A cavity fluid may be prepared according to Example 2.

    ______________________________________                                                             Percent by                                               Components           Volume                                                   ______________________________________                                        Ethyl Alcohol        35.63%                                                   Glutaraldehyde       1.13%                                                    Phenoxyethanol       2.45%                                                    Glycerol             5%                                                       Ethoxyethanol        1.5%                                                     1-2 Propanediol      2.48%                                                    ______________________________________                                    

The fluid may also include dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in about 0.5% toabout 1% by volume of the fluid. The DMSO may be a more preferredadditive to a cavity fluid.

The embalming method of the present invention utilizes the new fluiddescribed above. Typically, the fluid is injected by arterial deliveryinto the subject and allowed to penetrate the tissue. The fluid andmethod of this invention exhibits excellent penetration and deliverycharacteristics as compared to formaldehyde based fluids. Also,discolorations caused by hematomas and other conditions were lessenedwhen the deceased was embalmed using the improved fluid of the presentinvention. The improved fluid also relieves blood clots which can impairthe preservation of the body. This is particularly important if theembalming process is delayed after death and blood clots form prior toinjection of the fluid. The fluid of the present invention appears tobreak up the blood clots and improve delivery of the fluid through thearteries. The formaldehyde fluids do not exhibit alleviation ofdiscoloration or break up blood clots as compared to the fluid andmethod of the improved embalming composition described herein.

Generally, the arterial fluid is made up of a less concentrated solutionwithin the prescribed ranges. The cavity fluid is introduced into thecentral body cavity of the deceased and this fluid is generally moreconcentrated within the ranges. The glutaraldehyde component in thepresent fluid is a relatively small concentration at levels notsusceptible to polymerization. Also, the improved fluid is stable anddoes not require multiple mixing steps with more than one solution. Thesame solution may be diluted as desired for use as an arterial or cavityfluid.

The examples and methods described herein are not intended to limit thescope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognizevariations and substitutions in the composition and method that fallwithin the scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. An embalming fluid comprisingglutaraldehyde in the amountof about 0.5% to about 2.0% by volume of the fluid; phenoxyethanol inthe amount of about 1% to about 3% by volume of the fluid; alcohol inthe amount of about 27% to about 37% by volume of fluid; at least onepolyhydric alcohol in the amount of about 5% to about 9% by volume ofthe fluid; and water.
 2. An embalming fluid of claim 1 wherein saidpolyhydric alcohol is selected from the group consisting of glycerol,1-2 propanediol and mixtures thereof.
 3. The embalming fluid of claim 1additionally comprising a color additive.
 4. The embalming fluid ofclaim 1 additionally composing a pH buffer.
 5. The embalming fluid ofclaim 1 additionally comprising an antioxidant.
 6. The embalming fluidof claim 1 additionally comprising a biocide.
 7. The embalming fluid ofclaim 1 additionally comprising a perfume additive.
 8. The embalmingfluid of claim 1 additionally comprising dimethylsulfoxide from about0.5% to about 1% by volume of the fluid.
 9. The embalming fluid of claim1 wherein said alcohol is ethanol.
 10. The embalming fluid of claim 1additionally comprising ethoxyethanol from about 1% to about 2%.
 11. Amethod of embalming comprising:preparing a fluid according to claim 1;and introducing the fluid into a body.
 12. The method of claim 11wherein said introduction is arterial injection.
 13. The method of claim11 wherein said introduction is into the body cavity.
 14. The method ofembalming comprising the steps ofinjecting the fluid of claim 1 byarterial delivery; and delivering a more concentrated fluid of claim 1than used in the arteries to the body cavity.